Author Archives: cliffhousealpacas

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About cliffhousealpacas

Once upon a time, my dad drove by some funny looking animals standing on little dirt hills in a field. Thus, the dream of an alpaca ranch was born. Now, we are embarking on a grand adventure of raising alpacas and becoming fiber artists.

In case you needed proof Tuscany is a ninny

Posted on March 26, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Dad managed to catch Tuscany in the act of playing with the gutter end cap, with a new twist… …because the only thing more fun than a gutter end cap is a bucket of water and a gutter end cap. … Continue reading →

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Alpaca bio: Marcello

Posted on March 23, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Marcello is another one of our alpacas that I just don’t “get” (Morocco is the other). No matter how much I interact with the herd, I still can’t pick up on his personality. I’m not entirely convinced he has one.

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Tuscany trains for the circus

Posted on March 22, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Mom was treated to a most unusual act from Tuscany the other day. It seems the great white ninny is practicing his tricks. We feed the ‘pacas “crumbles”, a pellet food, mostly so that we know they are getting all the … Continue reading →

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Mom’s familiar

Posted on March 21, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Familiar – noun, “An attendant spirit, often taking animal form.” Squeaky, the larger of Mom’s two black cats (and the one with the tiny tuft of white on his chest), has become her shadow. He watches over her from the rafters … Continue reading →

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Baa baa Brittany, have you any wool?

Posted on March 20, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Yes, sir. Yes, sir, one bag full! Wait. Alpacas don’t go “baa”. “Mmm Mmm Brittany, have you any wool?” just doesn’t have the same ring though. Mom and Dad sent over pictures of our roving this morning! We have five bags … Continue reading →

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Craft room, mill update

Posted on March 19, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Our fiber is back from the mill! Yay! As Mom pointed out, it’s time to break out the spinning wheel. Now I know I left it around here somewhere… Ah! There it is. Now I only need to figure out … Continue reading →

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Happy Friday from Bravado

Posted on March 16, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

The work week is almost over, and it’s been a long one for poor Bravado… Throughout this whole weaning thing, he’s stuffed his face even more frantically than usual. When little Trip’s background humming annoys Bravado, he only stops chewing long enough … Continue reading →

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A few beginning knitting tips

Posted on March 15, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

I’ve talked before about the importance of crafting with friends, and I can’t say it enough: group knitting (or spinning) is the best way to get inspired to work on a project and have fun while you work. So when … Continue reading →

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Halter training and weaning gallery

Posted on March 14, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Before we could train or separate Tripoli, we had to catch him. Which is never easy with the rest of the herd getting in the way… A big bear hug is the usual way to catch an alpaca, in case … Continue reading →

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Weaning little Tripoli

Posted on March 13, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Dad caught little Tripoli doing some very *ahem* big boy things…if you know what I mean…last week. Even though he’s kind of been doing such things (all in “play”, not productively, or rather, reproductively) since he was old enough to … Continue reading →

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